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What happens when tech datacenters come to small towns? Big changes, that’s what. Here’s a look at how one community is dealing with the influx of tech workers.
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Introduction
Technology companies are increasingly choosing to locate their datacenters in small towns, bringing with them much-needed jobs and investment. But what happens when these massive facilities move in?
In recent years, towns like Bridgeport, Texas and Prineville, Oregon have seen a surge in datacenter development. These projects bring with them high-paying jobs and millions of dollars in investment, but they also have the potential to strain local infrastructure and disrupt the quiet way of life that many residents enjoy.
Proponents of datacenter development say that the benefits outweigh the costs, and that these projects can be a critical driver of economic growth in small towns. But critics argue that these facilities consume large amounts of resources, generate little tax revenue, and often fail to deliver on their promises of job creation.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the arrival of a datacenter is sure to change the character of any town it comes to.
The Economic Impact
It’s not just about the jobs. When a tech datacenter comes to town, the economic impact is felt throughout the community. From the construction workers who build the facility to the businesses that supply its daily needs, everyone benefits from the influx of jobs and money.
Jobs
The Jobs section of our website discusses the economic impact that tech datacenters have on the towns in which they are located. In particular, we focus on the number of jobs that are created by these datacenters and the types of jobs that are available.
According to a report by the Seattle Times, the number of jobs created by a single datacenter can range from a few hundred to a few thousand. The majority of these jobs are in construction and engineering, but there are also positions available in security, IT, operations, and administration. Furthermore, many of these jobs are high-paying positions that offer good benefits packages.
In addition to the direct jobs that datacenters create, there is also an indirect economic impact that occurs. For example, datacenters often purchase goods and services from local businesses, which can lead to more job growth in those companies. Additionally, datacenter employees often spend their money in the local community, further boosting the economy.
Thus, it is clear that tech datacenters can have a significant positive impact on the economy of a town or city. If you are looking for employment, be sure to check out whether there are any datacenters in your area!
Taxes
The economic impact of tech datacenters can be both positive and negative. One of the most positive impacts is the influx of tax revenue that the datacenter brings. Property taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes all go up when a tech datacenter moves in. This is good news for municipalities that are looking to improve their infrastructure or fund new projects.
However, not everyone is a fan of the way that tech datacenters use tax incentives to lure cities into giving them sweetheart deals. Critics argue that these incentives disproportionately benefit wealthy corporations at the expense of cash-strapped local governments. In some cases, municipalities have even been left on the hook for millions of dollars when a datacenter quits after just a few years.
Infrastructure
In order for a tech Datacenter to be built, the area must have proper infrastructure in order to support it. This typically means that the town or city must have an available and reliable power source, as well as an adequate amount of land to build on. The construction of a Datacenter can also have a positive impact on the local economy, as it creates jobs during the construction phase as well as ongoing jobs once the Datacenter is operational.
The Community Impact
In the past decade, tech companies have increasingly been building large datacenters in small towns across the united states These datacenters are often the largest employers in these communities. While the economic impact of these datacenters can be great, there can also be some negative community impacts.
Quality of Life
The quality of life in a community can be improved when a tech datacenter locates there. Jobs are created, both directly and indirectly, and the local economy is enhanced. The increased tax revenue generated can be used to improve schools, roads, and other infrastructure. In addition, the datacenter itself can be a source of civic pride for the community.
Population Growth
The presence of a data center can lead to increased population growth in a number of ways. First, data centers tend to be located near other data centers, so when one company builds a data center in a town, other companies often follow suit. This can lead to an influx of new residents who are employed by the data centers or by the companies that support them. In addition, data centers often spur development in the surrounding area, which can attract new residents and businesses. Finally, data centers can create an overall perception of a town as being “tech-friendly,” which can make it more attractive to newcomers.
Gentrification
Gentrification is a process of renovating decaying urban neighborhoods by means of the influx of more affluent residents. This often results in the displacement of lower-income families and small businesses, as well as alterations to the neighborhood’s character and culture. While some see gentrification as an opportunity to improve rundown areas, others view it as a form of social engineering that destroys communities.
The Environmental Impact
The proliferation of tech datacenters around the world has had a profound impact on the environment. These massive structures require a huge amount of energy to run, and they produce a lot of noise and heat. In addition, they often use cooling towers to keep the servers from overheating, which can result in the release of harmful chemicals into the air.
Energy Consumption
The huge datacenters that power the internet consume vast amounts of energy, both to run the servers and to keep them cool. In 2014, it was estimated that datacenters used 416.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, equivalent to 1.8% of global electricity consumption.
This is expected to grow as more and more services move online and demand for streaming content increases. A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that the growth in data consumption could lead to a 50% increase in datacenter energy use by 2030.
There are a number of ways in which datacenters can reduce their energy consumption, including using more efficient hardware, using alternative energy sources, and using cooling methods that require less energy. However, it is important to note that datacenters will continue to have a significant impact on global energy consumption in the future.
Water Consumption
The growth of the digital economy is driving demand for data centers, which are among the most water-intensive types of facilities. A single large data center can use as much water in a day as a small town, and the tech industry is building data centers at a rapid pace. In 2016, data center water use totaled 196 billion gallons, enough to supply more than 1.5 million homes.
Data centers require large amounts of water for cooling, and they usually consume more water than they discharge. In addition, the electricity needed to power data centers results in indirect water consumption from thermoelectric power plants. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indirect water consumption from coal-fired power plants is about twice the direct consumption of data centers.
While some tech companies are using innovative approaches to reduce their water footprint, the industry as a whole is not doing enough to address its growing thirst. Data center operators must take steps to improve their efficiency and adopt best practices for minimizing water use. In addition, the tech industry should invest in clean energy sources that have a lower water footprint than fossil fuels.
Waste
Waste from datacenters can come in a few forms: scrap metal from outdated equipment, toxic chemicals used for cleaning or cooling, or e-waste from broken devices. According to the EPA, it is estimated that only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled, while the rest is incinerated, disposed in landfills, or exported (often illegally) to developing countries where it is recycled under hazardous conditions.
In 2011, the global IT industry generated 2.37 million tons of e-waste. Data centers are a relatively small part of this – only 0.5% – but they are growing at a much faster rate than the overall industry. This means that datacenter waste will become an increasingly significant problem in the future.
There are a few ways to reduce the amount of waste generated by datacenters:
-Use energy-efficient equipment: More energy-efficient equipment generates less heat and thus requires less cooling. This also reduces the amount of toxic chemicals needed for cleaning and cooling.
-Recycle: Many datacenters have recycling programs for their e-waste. Some even reuse parts from old devices in new devices.
-Use green power: Datacenters can reduce their environmental impact by using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Conclusion
In the end, it is hard to overstate the potential positive economic impact that a major tech company can have on a small town. With the establishment of a data center comes an influx of highly-skilled workers, an increase in tax revenue, and the potential for further investment and growth. While there may be some concerns about the negative environmental impacts of these operations, it is important to remember that many data centers are working to offset their carbon footprints through initiatives like renewable energy purchases and carbon offsets. Overall, the arrival of a tech datacenter in a small town is likely to be a net positive for the community.
